Telescopic Welding Machine Layout for Stable Edge Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing welding machines for thermal combination of material railways often face challenges with stability, especially when welding near edges, and require complex maintenance, which can increase susceptibility to repairs and reduce reliability.

Innovation Solution

The proposed welding machine incorporates a telescopic extract mechanism that allows the heating device and pressure roller to be moved parallel to the transverse axis, enabling easier handling, reduced maintenance, and improved stability, especially when welding near edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If ground-level hot-air welding machines have additional support wheels spaced as far apart as possible to increase stability, then stability against lateral tipping is improved, but support wheels get in the way and prevent welding close to the edge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability against lateral tippingVSAvoidability to weld close to edge
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support wheels are made movable relative to the machine body through a telescopic support structure. This allows the support wheels to be dynamically repositioned - extended outward when stability is needed, and retracted inward when welding close to edges is required, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If fixed support wheels are used to provide stability, then stability is improved, but the machine cannot adapt to different welding positions and edges

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different welding positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one with telescopic support wheels that can be extended and retracted, allowing the machine to adapt its support configuration based on the welding task requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If complex support structures are added to improve stability, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic support structure uses a nested configuration where inner support elements are housed within outer structural components. This nesting approach provides the necessary stability and adjustability while minimizing the overall structural footprint and reducing complexity compared to fully extended support structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic telescopic mechanism provides stability adjustment without requiring multiple fixed support structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to adapt to different welding scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The telescopic extract mechanism enhances the welding machine's stability and ease of use, reduces maintenance efforts, and increases the reliability of the welding process, particularly when performing edge welding operations.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device for at least partially heating the material webs to be joined in a joining region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

at least a first caster of the two casters is arranged to be movable relative to the support frame by means of a telescopic extension in directions parallel to the transverse axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical movement through telescopic extension: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP4397473B1Automatic welding machine and method for thermally joining material webs
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 LEISTER TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP4397473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4397473B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7
  • EP4397473B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a welding machine (1) for thermally joining material webs, in particular for edge-to-edge joining of an overlapping upper material web to a lower material web, comprising: a heating device (10) for heating the material webs to be joined; a support frame (61) with a housing (62); a pressure roller (21, Figure 2); two guide rollers (23, 24); wherein one guide roller (24) is movably arranged relative to the support frame (61) by means of a telescopic extension (80) in later directions; wherein the first guide roller (24) and the heating device (10) are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the welding machine (1). A welding machine (1) wherein the heating device (10) is movably arranged relative to the support frame (61) by means of a telescopic extension (70, Figure 2) is also disclosed.